Internet Platforms: Observations on Speech, Danger, and Money

Hoover Institution's Aegis Paper Series, No. 1807, 2018

44 Pages Posted: 31 Oct 2018

See all articles by Daphne Keller

Daphne Keller

Stanford Cyber Policy Center, Freeman Spogli Institute

Date Written: June 13, 2018

Abstract

Policymakers increasingly ask Internet platforms like Facebook to “take responsibility” for material posted by their users. Mark Zuckerberg and other tech leaders seem willing to do so. That is in part a good development. Platforms are uniquely positioned to reduce harmful content online. But deputizing them to police users’ speech in the modern public square can also have serious unintended consequences. This piece reviews existing laws and current pressures to expand intermediaries’ liability for user-generated content. It discusses three ways that poorly designed laws can do damage — to First Amendment-protected online speech, national security, and the economy.

Keywords: Content Moderation, Platform Liability

Suggested Citation

Keller, Daphne, Internet Platforms: Observations on Speech, Danger, and Money (June 13, 2018). Hoover Institution's Aegis Paper Series, No. 1807, 2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3262936

Daphne Keller (Contact Author)

Stanford Cyber Policy Center, Freeman Spogli Institute ( email )

Encina Hall, 616 Jane Stanford Way
Stanford, CA CA 94305
United States
6507234581 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/about/people/daphne-keller

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